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Melbourne Orlando International Airport Among Those Awarded Job Growth Grant Fund by Gov. Ron DeSantis

By  //  February 13, 2026

will create 500 new jobs

Governor Ron DeSantis awarded more than $8 million through the Job Growth Grant Fund with nearly $5 million awarded to Palm Beach State College, $2.5 million awarded to Melbourne Orlando International Airport and more than $900,000 awarded to Broward College.

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – Governor Ron DeSantis awarded more than $8 million through the Job Growth Grant Fund with nearly $5 million awarded to Palm Beach State College, $2.5 million awarded to Melbourne Orlando International Airport and more than $900,000 awarded to Broward College.

These awards support the workforce and infrastructure needs of Florida’s aerospace and aviation, military and defense, cybersecurity, financial services, and more industries.

“Today’s investments will support high demand regional and statewide needs, including talent development needs in communities that are supporting high impact industries that align with many of Florida’s greatest pillars of investment,” said Governor Ron DeSantis.

“Communities such as Brevard and Palm Beach counties are critical for leading industry clusters in aerospace and aviation, military and defense, cybersecurity, financial services, and the investment in Broward College is focused on accelerated pathways to further support aviation workforce needs.”

“Today’s investments are further examples of Governor DeSantis’ focus on targeted, catalytic investments that matter, especially for our national security,” said Florida Secretary of Commerce J. Alex Kelly. “These three investments support the foundations of workforce readiness for our aviators, cybersecurity, cryptography, secure communications and data.”

Palm Beach State College will receive:

$4,950,000 — to develop a new workforce program in computing and emerging quantum technologies—in support of critical national defense missions, cybersecurity, and financial services. Designed to provide rapid level modular training over 8-week terms, the program is set to enroll 970 students with 570 program completions over 10 years.

Melbourne Orlando International Airport will receive:

$2.5 million — to expand the current Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) apron.

This critical infrastructure investment will support both commercial and military aerospace and aviation activities. Expanding this apron will create 500 new jobs with an average salary of $75,000 to $85,000 annually.